City Council

CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019 IN CITY HALL 1. Mayor Michael C. Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Mayor Taylor led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and Melanie D. Ryska, City Clerk, gave the Invocation. 3. Council Members present at roll call: Deanna Koski, Michael V. Radtke Jr., Maria G. Schmidt, Liz Sierawski, Michael C. Taylor, Henry Yanez, Barbara A. Ziarko. Also Present: Mark Vanderpool, City Manager; Marc D. Kaszubski, City Attorney; Melanie D. Ryska, City Clerk; Carol Sobosky, Recording Secretary. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Moved by Koski, seconded by Ziarko, RESOLVED, to approve the Agenda as presented. Yes: All. The motion carried. 5. REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER Mr. Vanderpool started his report with the excellent crime statistics for Sterling Heights, referring to a recent update from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and informed that Sterling Heights was ranked very favorably the safest big city in Michigan and continuing to rank among the safest throughout the country. He showed a slide displaying some of the statistics, broken down into two basic categories: violent crime and property crime. He noted that of the cities across the state with population of over 100,000, and that included Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 2 Clinton Township in this analysis, Sterling Heights experienced just 240 cases under the violent crime category, which is significantly below all of the other large cities ranked, and that has been consistent over the years. He displayed a similar ranking for property crimes, where there is a wide gap between the City of Ann Arbor, with just under 2,000 property crimes, and Sterling Heights, which had just over 1,300 property crimes. The data includes breakdowns of the various sub-categories, but he attributed the lower numbers to the outstanding police department, the community at large for their attention to criminal activity in the City, and for City Council in making sure the Police Department has state-of-the-art equipment, technology, and updated vehicles. Mr. Vanderpool stated he is pleased to announce this year that the leaf collection season has been extended one week, through December 13. Collection of leaves is important to ensure proper street drainage and to avoid ponding and flooding during fall, winter and early spring seasons. The City will be actively enforcing the ordinance, which requires the removal of leaves from yards. Properties that have not collected the leaves or mulched them from their yard will receive warning notices via door hangers in mid to late November, and actual enforcement will begin the first week in December. If the leaves are not collected, the City’s contractor will have to go in and do so, and property owners will be billed. The vast majority of property owners in Sterling Heights comply with this ordinance provision, so although it is not a huge problem, it is important that the leaves get collected or mulched Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 3 properly. For those who have mobility or hardship issues where they are not able to collect the leaves from their property, they may be eligible for the City’s Shine Program, where volunteers help clean up homes by raking leaves and trimming shrubs. Mr. Vanderpool stated there are a number of on-demand services with which the City has developed relationships. One is LawnGuru and the other is Plowz & Mowz, which are both Uber-like services for mowing grass, collecting leaves and clearing snow from driveways and walkways. Anyone interested can go to the City’s website to connect with these services, or they can download the app from their smartphones. He provided a brief explanation of how these services determine the size of the yard, which is geo- based, and once the information is entered, the resident is ready to use the service. He reminded that Pride & Shine Day will be November 2, 2019, when volunteers go out to help clean up about fifty yards. The City is working with this company to have a couple of sign-up fairs this fall so those who are not as proficient in computer technology can have help walking through the process. He assured the app is user-friendly and easy to download. Mr. Vanderpool provided information on Item 9-I on tonight’s Consent Agenda, which is a cost-sharing agreement between the County of Macomb, the City of Sterling Heights and the City of Warren for the Innovate Mound project. The project will cost close to $200 million and is entering the engineering phase, so there is a cost-share agreement that has to be approved by the City. The project is being funded in large part by a federal grant in the amount of $97.8 Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 4 million. The schedule anticipates a year of design, approximately six months of bidding, and construction starting in 2021 and continuing for three years. This project will result in a state-of-the-art nine-mile stretch of road that will serve as a model for the country, including high-tech pavement construction, improved drainage, additional lanes north of 17 Mile Road, improved business access points, connected vehicle technology, de-icing features, expanded fiberoptic infrastructure, 5G technology infrastructure deployment, pedestrian and non- motorized transportation improvements, burying overhead utilities, and vastly improved aesthetic features. He highlighted that, although the cities of Warren and Sterling Heights are involved and part of the design and project team, Mound Road is a county road so ultimately the project is under the auspices of the Macomb County Department of Roads. For more information, those interested can visit the website at www.innovatemound.org. Mr. Vanderpool explained the City has been partnering with DC3S and Grosse Pointe Board of Realtors, along with numerous other partners, launching an effort to raise $25,000 to sponsor a service dog that will be gifted to a Michigan veteran or first responder. The dog, named “Sterling,” will be ready for pairing very soon. Medical service dogs mitigate the challenges associated with several disabilities, including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, mobility issues and more. Guardian Angels has paired more than 200 individually trained medical service dogs with deserving recipients since their beginning in 2010, and they do not charge the recipient for the service dog. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 5 Sterling’s sponsorship of $25,000 has been completed, thanks to a very generous Sterling Heights community, the Grosse Pointe Board of Realtors and Jim Riehl’s Friendly Automotive Group, and now that she has been fully funded, she will be paired with a veteran in the near future. He thanked all who helped fund the dog and taking part in some of the fundraisers they have held over the past year. Mr. Vanderpool introduced Economic Development Advisor Luke Bonner to showcase some of the significant economic development projects that have been going on over the summer, some of which are completed and others will be continuing through the winter months. Mr. Bonner stated there has been a lot going on over the last couple of years, and he provided an update. He stressed the theme of “Quality Public Investment” has been stimulating quality private investment, with approximately $2.1 billion in investment across all industry classes in Sterling Heights over the last five years. In that same time frame, there has been about $300 million in new public investment, which includes the Innovate Mound reconstruction project. He stressed quality investment supports long-term property values, maintains strong infrastructure for a thriving business economy, and creates a strong sense of place and experience for visitors and residents alike. City leadership has demonstrated strong aspirational commitments to maintaining a best-in-class community, evidenced by numerous ratings, including a “Top 50 Cities Nationally” for millennials to move Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 6 to, as reported by CNBC, another “Safe City” ranking by the FBI, and an earlier report this year that Sterling Heights has the fifth largest total property valuation in the State of Michigan. The Innovate Mound project is consistently referred to within the Federal Department of Transportation as a best-in-class public/private partnership, with Macomb County, Warren and Sterling Heights partnering with businesses along Mound Road to secure the $100 million grant. Van Dyke’s $40 million makeover a few years ago, which included new pavement, landscaping, light poles and way-finding signage. He believed that project was very helpful for some of the private sector investment. M-59 went through a $30 million resurfacing project that included public artwork, cementing the “Golden Corridor” for the foreseeable future, and he added that ReCreating Recreation has been substantial for setting the community apart for current and new residents. He listed some of the amenities that were included in that initiative, giving opportunities of experience and a sense of place around Dodge Park. Mr. Bonner mentioned Velocity, a partnership program they have had for about ten years between the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Oakland University, Macomb County and the City of Sterling Heights Economic Development, stating this has been a project that has truly represented partnerships and collaborations as much as efforts to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem. There are a number of organizations within Velocity and soon, there will be new co-working space. There is a 1,400- square-foot commercial kitchen in the building, and that has been vacant for a Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 7 few years. They are gutting it to create a new flexible entrepreneurial working space so they can house one-, two- or up to four-person working companies. It will be very attractive for tech entrepreneurs moving forward. Mr. Bonner talked about the Sterling Innovation District, which is an effort in the last year or two to set apart the industrial corridor. It is six square miles, with about 30 million square feet of total industrial space and about 40,000 employees. The effort is to separate out where that area begins and ends within the Mound Road and Van Dyke Avenue corridors. Mr. Bonner explained this has all led to substantial private investment, and he highlighted and provided details on Sterling Enterprise Park, which is home to HTI Cybernetics, Tulsa, Mitchell Plastics, FCA, as well as anticipated plans for another 200,000-square-foot manufacturing headquarters. Liberty Park, formerly developed with softball fields, was a former brownfield site built on a landfill, and the City supported this brownfield project by reimbursing the developer for eligible brownfield costs over a ten-year period. He showed photographs of the finished project. He hoped that by Thanksgiving, they will be able to celebrate a single user for the 576,000-square-foot building. He provided information on a $40 million project at 15 Mile and Van Dyke for rebuilding and adding decorative developments and landscaping, which follows the high-quality public investment along that corridor. He referred to the Christian Financial Credit Union Headquarters, which is a beautiful development, and he pointed out the multi-story hotel developments, proving Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 8 that projects can be constructed vertically with success in a suburban community. Mr. Bonner explained that they are close to 1,000 new residential units approved, which includes apartments, senior living, single-family and condominiums, which demonstrates people continue to want to move into this community. Mr. Bonner explained that, even though Lakeside is going through transition, there is still need for high-end quality retail in the area, and he cited BJ’s Brewhouse, a craft brewery, as being one of those developments. He noted the Robotics Collaboration Center, a public/private partnership, will be moving into Velocity in the early part of 2020. They will be making sure there are opportunities for high school students and college students to engage with industry and to learn their trade in a more creative way, using robotics as the platform. He provided information on the Urban Air Adventure Park, featured in Crain’s Detroit Business magazine two weeks ago, noting this was the most- read article in Crain’s that week. This is an example of experiential retail that provides a sense of place. He showed photographs of the Walmart center at M- 59 and Mound, owned by Gatlin Development. The project has been going through a facelift for the existing center, and they are at nearly 100% capacity, largely due to Walmart extending their lease for another five years at that location. There have also been landscape improvements to the site, as well as parking lot resurfacing. He added there are plans for new development at the Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 9 corner of M-59 and Mound, which includes a couple of new restaurants, and the owner wants to partner with the City on creating public artwork at that location to make a profound entry point into the community. Mr. Bonner informed of a new project at 18-1/2 Mile and Mound Roads that the Council will be seeing shortly, noting that there is not a lot of land left for industrial development, and this is a 30-acre parcel. He explained they got two private- sector developers to come together and collaborate with the City to develop one full project with three to four industrial buildings. This is going for the Local Development Finance Authority and an update will be forthcoming. Mr. Bonner addressed the future of 2020 and beyond, coinciding with the City’s 2030 Vision, there is a focus on innovation. He explained a program called “Manufacturers Engage,” where manufacturers are brought together in a very open discussion format so they can talk to each other and report about their major challenges. They intend to focus on innovation to look at what opportunities or support their manufacturing companies need over the next five years. He addressed the empty Target Store at 15 Mile and Van Dyke, which presents a tremendous opportunity on this 15-acre site for mixed-use development. The Sterling Innovation District is a brand for the area, so part of that process is identifying what they can do to support the manufacturing businesses, and making sure all of the companies in that corridor understand where they are located and how they can use this branding to their benefit. They will also look at how they can create programs within that district that Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 10 support local manufacturers. Mr. Bonner mentioned Lakeside Mall, and informed they have a very exciting meeting planned next week with potential new owners of Lakeside. It is an out-of-state real estate developer with a fairly strong track record of development, both retail and commercial. He talked about the Corridor Improvement Authority District, which is something they are looking at as a mixed-use project from the Chaldean Community Foundation, with mixed income affordable and market-rate housing. It will be located closer to Van Dyke, so it will be the first time they have a mixed-use project directly on the street front. He concluded his presentation by explaining another project anticipated next year for the Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA), and that is a streetscape enhancement project, which is something they have been planning for the last year. Based on tax increment finance revenues and the CIA, they feel they have enough to make some substantial improvements, and he showed an artist rendering of potential improvements at the 18-1/2 Mile/Van Dyke roundabout. Mr. Vanderpool stated there is a lot going on, and the past year has been very busy with development activity, which is something they anticipate will continue for the foreseeable future. At the conclusion of tonight’s agenda, he is requesting that City Council convene a closed session pursuant to Section 8H of the Open Meetings Act for Council to consult with the City Attorney regarding three confidential written legal opinions. He ended his report on an exciting note by introducing Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 11 and Industry President & CEO Stacy Ziarko and Board of Directors Treasurer Brent Freeman to present the City with a sizeable check as part of the City’s share of the highly successful Sterlingfest this past summer. Ms. Ziarko thanked the Council for having them tonight. She stressed the strong partnership between the City and Chamber of Commerce every year to make Sterlingfest such a success, and she added that neither one could do it without the other. She stressed they appreciate the support of the City. They estimated about 500 volunteer manhours were spent in the beer tent that weekend, so they are supportive in not only financial ways, but also in time and talent. Ms. Ziarko, along with Mr. Freeman, presented the check to the City in the amount of $180,988.43, and the Mayor and City Council accepted the check. She stated they are looking forward to partnering with the City once again for the 2020 Sterlingfest. Mr. Vanderpool stated this concludes his report for this evening. 6. PRESENTATION A. Mayor Taylor stated this is a presentation of the Nineteenth Recipient of a Sterling Heights Fire Department’s Survival Coin. He invited Fire Chief Chris Martin to give a presentation. Fire Chief Chris Martin stated this is another story of teamwork, and this incident occurred in his neighborhood. He provided a brief background on the event that took place on May 19, 2019, when Mr. Brian Parker had just finished cutting his grass and was applying fertilizer and suddenly collapsed, suffering from cardiac arrest. His direct neighbor, Ms. Andrea Trombley, and a neighbor Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 12 from across the street, Mr. Matt Zielinski, rushed to his aid. Ms. Trombley called 911 and she and Ms. Zielinski’s wife began to administer CPR. He proceeded to explain the details of the events that followed, from Ms. Trombley and Mr. Zielinski’s wife starting CPR, to just over three minutes when Engine #2 and Ambulance Squad #2 arrived on the scene. They had backup, and for the next twelve minutes, they did two defibrillations, placement of an advanced airway, started an IV with cardiac medications, and they converted his heart to a normal rhythm. They did an EKG and sent it to Henry Ford Macomb, so the hospital staff was prepared to treat him when the ambulance arrived. Because of this teamwork, Mr. Parker is here tonight to become the Nineteenth Survival Coin recipient. He invited Mr. Parker to come up and receive the Nineteenth Survival Coin, and also invited Lt. Schwartz, Firefighter Sears, Firefighter Delaney and Firefighter Kiekbusch., noting it was Lt. Schwartz who came up with the Survival Coin Program and also teaches high-performance CPR. Lt. Schwartz presented Mr. Parker with the Nineteenth Survival Coin on behalf of the Sterling Heights Fire Department. Fire Chief Martin also invited Ms. Andrea Trombley and Mr. Matt Zielinski up for recognition and appreciation of their quick action to begin CPR on Mr. Parker. He explained they were recognized at the October 4, 2019 City Council meeting by being presented with the Exceptional Civilian Service Award. He credited their teamwork for this success story tonight. He stressed they have a big push for CPR classes because CPR is so important. He concluded his Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 13 presentation by talking about the importance of Safe Streets, specifically as it relates to this miracle. He explained Safe Streets started in July 2014, and since that date, including Mr. Parker, they have had sixty-six people suffer cardiac arrest in the City of Sterling Heights and walk out of the hospital with no neurological deficit. He did not know if that statistic could be beat in any other city, and he stressed without the funding for Safe Streets, they would have closed a Fire Station, and he was fairly confident that number would not be as high as sixty-six. He admitted he does not know what that number would be, but he felt anything less than sixty-six is unacceptable. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski congratulated Mr. Parker, and she commended the Fire Department for the fabulous job they do saving lives and keeping everyone safe. She stressed everyone needs to learn CPR, adding it is a life- saving skill and is now offered through the City. Councilman Radtke stated it is great that Mr. Parker is here this evening and is another example of what a great fire department the City has. He hopes the residents consider that they have a fire department worth supporting because they are saving lives every day. He thanked Mr. Parker for coming here tonight and wished him success. Mayor Taylor thanked Mr. Parker for being here tonight and participating in this event, adding it is a proud moment for their firefighters to know the work they are doing is saving lives and having an impact in the community. He appreciated Mr. Parker’s neighbors being present as well, stressing it starts with Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 14 quick action. He commended the police officers and firefighters doing a brave and heroic job here in Sterling Heights. He felt this is a great reminder of how important these services are to the City. B. Mayor Taylor stated the second presentation tonight is to adopt a resolution designating October 23-31, 2019 as Red Ribbon Week in the City of Sterling Heights in support of the nation’s oldest and largest drug abuse prevention campaign. He invited Lt. Mario Bastianelli, of the Sterling Heights Police Department, and Mr. Rich Isaacson, Community Outreach Specialist, Special Agent (Red.), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Field Division, to make the presentation. Lt. Mario Bastianelli thanked the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and City Attorney for their continued support with the Sterling Heights Drug Free Coalition. He also thanked the volunteers for that group, noting they could not be successful if it was not for their volunteering at events, support and resources provided. He stressed a big part of their success with the Drug Free Coalition is their continued support and working relationship they have with other agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He introduced Rich Isaacson of the DEA to give a presentation on Red Ribbon Week. Mr. Isaacson, retired Special Agent after 26 years and now doing community outreach work as a contractor for the DEA, expressed his appreciation for being invited tonight. He stated the DEA and the City of Sterling Heights has had a great working relationship over the years, and he claimed two of the best Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 15 investigators he ever worked with were Task Force officers from the Sterling Heights Police Department. He explained that between 80 million and 100 million people each year celebrate Red Ribbon Week, which all started after the kidnapping, torture and murder of DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985, who was working undercover for Guadalajara, Mexico, and had been a U.S. Marine, a fireman, a police officer and an Imperial County Deputy Sheriff before he joined the DEA as a special agent. Mr. Isaacson detailed the events that occurred leading up to his death, and shortly after his death, high school students from Calexico, Agent Camerena’s home town, organized an event to signify their support for the ideals that Agent Camerena lived and died for, wearing red ribbons in recognition of his sacrifice. Within five years, this event became a national drug prevention campaign. Young people across the country participate in the annual Red Ribbon Week activities, including signing pledges, having discussions about what they can do in their communities to prevent drug use and abuse. He stated in southeast Michigan there are marches, essay contests, poster contests, photo contests, all in support of Red Ribbon Week. Communities can light their buildings red to show support, there is a Red Ribbon Pledge for adults and children alike, and there is a patch that scouts can earn through their local DEA office. He recommended those interested in more resources can go to www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com or www.justthinktwice.com. On behalf of the DEA, he thanked the City for their support. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 16 Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED, to adopt the resolution designating October 23 – October 31, 2019 as Red Ribbon Week in the City of Sterling Heights in support of the nation’s oldest and largest drug abuse prevention campaign. Councilwoman Ziarko thanked everyone here from the Drug Coalition, acknowledging the time put into this cause. She stated she is aware the City is working to limit the exposure to drugs in the community, but it goes to the County and beyond. She thanked the police and everyone from the DEA and added that some of the ideas they have picked up from agencies and organizations around the country have been helpful in this fight. She thanked CARE of Southeast Michigan for their support and the resources they have for parents and children, especially in recovery, but she urged anyone who needs help to contact that organization. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski applauded the Sterling Heights Drug Free Coalition and those who had the foresight to start this effort. She stated as a nurse and wife of a judge and lawyer, she has witnessed first-hand how drugs can affect the entire population. It is an epidemic and efforts they have with FAN, the Drug Free Coalition, and Hope Not Handcuffs has made headway but they need as many supporters as possible, so she urged those interested to join. Councilman Yanez thanked everyone from the Drug Free Coalition. He has heard the comment that if there is no demand, then there is no supply, and he felt that is the key. He knows how difficult it is for families, and he thanked the Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 17 Drug Free Coalition for all of the work they do on behalf of this community. He felt it would be appropriate to light The Halo red for Red Ribbon Week. Mayor Taylor agreed. Councilwoman Koski agreed the Drug Free Coalition Program is extremely important, and she liked the way they are reaching out to the teenagers in the local high schools. She questioned when their meetings are held. Lt. Bastianelli welcomed everyone to their meetings, which are held on the second Thursday of each month, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Police Department Conference Room (upstairs). He stressed they appreciate all the help they get. Councilwoman Schmidt thanked everyone involved with this group for being part of the solution. As part of a school district, she sees firsthand some of the effects of kids not supporting Red Ribbon Week, but they also have a lot of students participating in the Red Ribbon Week activities. She felt there is hope for the younger generation, and resources are available for everyone. Councilman Radtke echoed his colleagues, commenting that the Drug Free Coalition is doing an excellent job and crediting the great leadership of Lt. Bastianelli. He felt they are molding leaders and fighting this battle. He thanked them for their hard work in Sterling Heights. Mayor Taylor read the Resolution, adding he is proud to have this presentation and Resolution tonight, and he presented Mr. Isaacson with the Resolution. Yes: All. The motion carried. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 18 C. Mayor Taylor stated the last presentation this evening is a Nice Neighbor Award. He invited Councilwoman Schmidt to make a brief presentation. Councilwoman Schmidt stated the Nice Neighbor Program honors homeowners and businesses that improve the quality of life for their neighbors. She stated the Community Relations Department is proud to present Ms. Samantha Zalupski and Ms. Tracy Stefanides with this award. She relayed the actions they took upon finding balloons and metallic confetti strewn across the pavilion and adjoining parking lot at Dodge Park, and commended their willingness to jump in and help with the cleanup along with the Parks and Recreation Department personnel, whom they had contacted when they discovered the situation. They were concerned about the harmful affect the non-biodegradable material can have on the environment and wildlife, and they are to be commended for their actions. She added that the residents appreciate them as well. Councilwoman Schmidt presented Ms. Samantha Zalupski and Ms. Tracy Stefanides with the Nice Neighbor Award. Ms. Stephanie Zalupski thanked the City for this recognition. She stated she actually resides in Warren and Ms. Stefanides resides in Fraser, but they are both part of Hanson’s Running Group who uses Dodge Park and helps fund the running trails. They appreciate using a nice park and seeing it in disarray was disappointing, knowing how much work the City put into the park over the last Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 19 couple of years. People leaving trash and litter around, especially in nice city parks, so this summer she started a community volunteer group, bothers her. Within the last two months in the Cities of Warren and Centerline, they managed to clean up trash and garbage in thirteen city parks. She has enjoyed making a difference, and they are hoping to expand to other communities. It is fun to meet people when residents of all ages come out to join them. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Mayor Taylor stated this is to consider the application by Shuert Industries, Inc. for an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate (IFEC) at 6600 Dobry Drive. He invited Senior Economic Development Advisor Luke Bonner to make a presentation. Senior Economic Development Advisor Luke Bonner stated Shuert has been in the community for over twenty years, and after meeting with them over the years and seeing the kind of product they produce, which is a plastic container product that they also recycle, they have a great success story. Their total investment is approximately $3.5 million, which includes machinery, equipment, a 10,000 square-foot expansion to their existing 230,000 square foot building, and the addition of twelve new jobs to the community. The proposed addition will provide a customized recycling center that will enable installation of new regrinding machinery to divert self-generated waste from being landfilled. They are a very responsible company with a very diverse customer base. This is an eight-year tax abatement request, and over that eight-year period of time, in addition to the taxes abated, the City is also Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 20 estimated to see an increase of $92,000 of new property taxes over that same time period. He introduced the Chief Financial Officer for Shuert Industries, Mr. Joe Keppler, and stated he was also the CFO for HTI Cybernetics for a long time. Mr. Keppler thanked the Mayor and Council for consideration of their abatement request. He explained Shuert Industries is the manufacturer of plastic container products, specializing in pallets, tops and totes, and they have been in business since 1971. They moved to Sterling Heights in 1988 by combining two facilities previously located in Troy. They now have 350,000 square feet of manufacturing space on a twenty-acre campus with 250 employees. He stressed that 100% of their manufacturing is done in Sterling Heights, where they produce products shipped around the world. They believe they have been a good corporate citizen of the City, noting that approximately 20% of their workforce calls Sterling Heights their home. He emphasized they are an eco-friendly company, and it is critical to be environmentally conscious. They began planning this addition in 2018 to house their full recycling center operations, and with this new addition, they will be able to significantly increase their capacity to recycle scrap material, damaged product and numerous products they have sold through the years but are now reaching the end of their life, with all of this greatly reducing post-industrial landfill waste. He thanked the Council again for their consideration. Mayor Taylor opened the public hearing, but there were no comments from the audience. The public hearing was closed. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 21 Moved by Sierawski, seconded by Ziarko, RESOLVED, to adopt the resolution approving the application by Shuert Industries, Inc. for an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate at 6600 Dobry Drive, Parcel #50-10-10-04-126-008, for a period of 8 years in accordance with the guidelines established by City Council, and the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized to sign, as applicable, all documents required in conjunction with this approval. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski commended Shuert Industries because they are looking at plastics as being something that is not always beneficial to the environment and are creating a recycling center to put to good use materials that would otherwise be sent to landfills, which is an excellent idea. She thanked their company for doing this. Councilwoman Ziarko agreed with Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski and felt this is the first investment in the City that is exclusively for recycling. This is a major accomplishment, especially in the plastics industry. She thanked them for doing this and felt attention should be brought to this because it is unheard of. Yes: All. The motion carried. 8. ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION A. Mayor Taylor stated this is to consider introduction of ordinances amending Zoning Ordinance No. 278 to add Article 14A, creating the Van Dyke Mixed Use District and Article 20A, creating the Mound Road Innovation Support District. He invited City Planner Chris McLeod to give a presentation. City Planner Chris McLeod explained there are two proposed ordinance amendments, Article 14A and Article 20A, including the Van Dyke Mixed Use Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 22 District and the Mount Road Innovation Support District. He stated they both went to the Planning Commission last week and both had unanimous recommendation for approval. This continues to implement the recommendations that came out of the 2017 Master Plan, which tries to create a more flexible and diverse planning tool which can be proactive in terms of working with business developments. Mr. McLeod explained the proposed Van Dyke Mixed Use District first, noting the intent of the district is to allow for a mixed use environment to take the commercial setting which is rather rigid and traditional in nature, and allow for a new mixture of uses, increasing diversity and allowing for residential to be added in that environment. First floor residential uses would be considered a Special Approval Land Use, but second floor and above would be considered permissible uses allowed by right. It allows for taller buildings in the district and allows for reduction of setbacks when necessary to push them closer to the road. Screening protection to the east, along the east side of Van Dyke, has been increased to make sure they are allowing for greater intensity while still protecting the existing residents. They are also allowing for flexible calculation in parking requirements to more accurately reflect the mixture of uses proposed within a particular area. It allows for Administrative/Planning Commission review of the flexibility of almost built-in variances, without having to go to multiple boards, which slows down the process. He showed a zoning map reflecting the proposed location of the Van Dyke Mixed Use Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 23 District, explaining the majority of the properties are on the east side of Van Dyke with the exception of the intersections, where there are some properties on the west side of Van Dyke as well. This district would extend from 14 Mile Road to 18 Mile Road, and he reminded it is an overlay district, so the existing uses and sites would remain as is, with no non-conformities. As soon as they come in for redevelopment, that is when the overlay would be a consideration. He referred to the mixed-use project further north on Van Dyke that was referred to earlier by Mr. Bonner, and although it does not fall within this proposed overlay district, it is the type of use that would be allowed within this district, allowing for first floor retail and second, third and fourth floors to be residential. This allows for taller buildings, reconfigured parking calculations, location of the building closer to the road. Mr. McLeod addressed the Mound Road Innovation Support District, is a very similar philosophy in allowing flexibility in design, but in this district, the idea is not necessarily mixed use in terms of residential. He noted that trying to interact residential with a lot of the industrial uses they have on the east side of Mound is not the best concept, but it allows a mixture of uses in non- residential settings, such as office, technology, light industrial and limited retail, and these would be limited to the confines of the major intersections. The mixed uses would allow for the support efforts of that overall sector of the city, allowing for taller buildings, more densely developed buildings, reductions of setbacks, but increasing the residential screening to the west on Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 24 the west side of Mound. This would also allow for flexibility in parking. He explained that where industrial use is more characteristic, many times they find their industrial parking calculations are not where the industry is, so this allows the flexibility for them to show they do not need that much parking for a particular development and the City can administrate the change without doing through additional boards. He showed a zoning map reflecting the proposed location of this overlay district, and with a minor exception on the north side of 14 Mile Road, it is basically the frontage properties on the west side of Mound. He showed an example of a development that came through as a conditional rezoning and had to go through three separate meetings and due process. The Mound Road Innovation Support District would have limited that to one meeting, adding it streamlines the process and is more responsive to the developer and business owner. He stressed the Department of Planning and City Development works hard daily to streamline their processes and this is one way to do that. He indicated the example development he cited took three to five months to process, and that could be cut down to thirty days. Mr. McLeod stated the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of these proposed ordinances last week and were happy to see them come forward. He summarized the benefits, including reduction of additional meetings and variances, more efficient use of land, increased diversity of uses in an evolving market. He added it is another tool they can use in both of their main corridors to be more proactive to get ahead of developments. He noted Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 25 there were several small corrections that need to be made in the introduction draft, and they will be made prior to the adoption draft coming forward. He offered to answer questions. Mayor Taylor opened the floor for comments from the audience, but no one from the audience spoke. Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Radtke, RESOLVED, to introduce the ordinance amending Zoning Ordinance No 278 to add Article 14A, creating the Van Dyke Mixed Use District. Councilwoman Ziarko felt it has been explained, and it will be coming to them once more for adoption, so if they have questions, they can ask them prior to the adoption. Councilman Radtke questioned how many floors Mr. McLeod felt the buildings will go on Van Dyke. Mr. McLeod did not anticipate they will be taller than four stories because anything over four stories changes construction methodology. They have seen some new development of four-story buildings in the 15 Mile/Van Dyke area, and he felt that may become the “new norm.” Councilman Radtke questioned why the district does not include the 17 Mile/Van Dyke area, adding the map reflects that area as purple. Mr. McLeod replied that is a forthcoming district, so that will be an amendment that will come to the Council at a later date. They have about eleven or twelve traditional mixed-use nodes, and that will further define that area as a more Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 26 “downtown” setting. It will allow buildings even closer to the street front, create a better pedestrian environment and it is a different context. Councilman Radtke questioned whether these districts could be expanded or contracted in the future. Mr. McLeod replied that each time they create a zoning district, it would take Planning Commission and City Council action to modify it, adding it would be no different than rezoning property. If Council felt it was a good idea to expand other areas, they would most likely have to go through the master plan process. If City Council wanted to contract that area because they do not like what they are getting in that area, they can also contract the district. Councilwoman Schmidt questioned what this does as far as notifying abutting residents of potential buildings adjacent to their property since a lot of this would be done administratively. Mr. McLeod clarified the administrative function is relative to the reduction of setbacks, etc. He assured they will still have a single Planning Commission meeting, and anytime there is a non-residential development abutting a residential development, it has to go to the Planning Commission. It would remove the requirement that would send them to Zoning Board of Appeals to first apply for the variances. He added if there was a rezoning or planned unit development necessary, that is two or three meetings between Planning Commission and City Council. He assured that with the adoption of this ordinance, there would still be one public meeting at Planning Commission, Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 27 and notification of that meeting would be sent to residents within 300 feet, as well as publication in the newspapers. Councilwoman Koski requested clarification on the 17 Mile/Van Dyke area where they would allow buildings to be closer to the street. Mr. McLeod replied that is an amendment that will be forthcoming. It was set up in the Master Plan that was adopted in 2017. Most of their major intersections are on Schoenherr, Ryan or Dequindre, although 17 Mile/Van Dyke is the one major intersection along Van Dyke. He noted it would push buildings closer to the road, creating a more downtown feeling, but added that would take specific ordinances to allow it. He clarified this particular district is not applicable to that intersection, but it would allow that flexibility without mandating it. He stressed that the areas designated in purple on the map will need further discussions and will be a separate ordinance. Councilwoman Koski questioned whether they will all be separate districts, and what their zoning designations will be. Mr. McLeod replied it will not be a singular district that will consider all eleven or twelve nodes. They will need to determine which ones are similar in nature and possibly develop a node specific to each of those, or it may take a multitude of separate nodes or districts. He reiterated those are ordinance amendments that are forthcoming and have yet to be worked out. They started with the Lakeside District, they have moved on and are now Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 28 considering Van Dyke and Mound Road, and once this is set, they will move on to the other nodes. Councilwoman questioned what the new designation will be called. Mr. McLeod replied that has not yet been decided, but he clarified they will have their traditional zoning designations. These particular corridors, or nodes, are set up as overlay districts, so the underlying zoning is still in place. He added that the area designated as purple on the map may also be an overlay district, but that has not yet been decided. Councilwoman Koski questioned what the setbacks would be in the 17 Mile/Van Dyke area. Mr. McLeod replied that still has to be formulated, but he would envision that at the property line, they would have their pedestrian zone, which could be a combination of hardscape or green scape, and a building would start within a short proximity of that property line. They are creating a much more defined building wall along the roadway and within the intersection itself. He is not sure of the actual measurements at this time, noting most of the intersections in the City are completely built out. They will need to look at the best solutions for each of those areas. Councilman Yanez questioned the parameters used when someone requests reduced parking. He anticipated many developers will ask for reduced parking to save money. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 29 Mr. McLeod replied it may be a national chain that comes in and can show statistics that they only utilize a certain percentage of what the ordinance requires, and in those cases, that information would probably be considered as a reliable study. In those cases, the City may allow a partial reduction but still err on the side of caution. There are parking studies that come out, and possibly based on those new studies in a certain environment, and if it does not align with the City’s requirements, they could reflect it without going through a zoning ordinance amendment change. He assured approval of a parking reduction is not based on a developer simply stating they do not want to put in that much parking, but it will have to be based on substantial or significant evidence that supports their request. Councilman Yanez questioned whether they are taking public safety concerns into consideration regarding the fact there may be less parking area, higher density and more built up with more traffic in the area. Mr. McLeod assured that the Fire Department is very active in site-specific requirements through their plan review. He hoped they will become even more active in the plan review at a much earlier point between Building, Planning, Engineering and Fire Departments. If there are issues such as fire safety concerns, they will know that up front rather than going to the process and trying to figure it out later. It will result in a much more seamless process. Mayor Taylor felt this is a great new proposal, and he appreciated the Planning Departments’ help on this. He pointed out that both Van Dyke and Mound are Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 30 major corridors that are not just industrial, but it is a place where they can showcase commercial, retail and mixed-use concepts. He stated they often focus on Hall Road and its reference to “The Golden Corridor,” but he felt there is no reason that both Mound and Van Dyke cannot mimic that in some way. He felt it is a good step forward. Yes: All. The motion carried. Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Sierawski, to introduce the ordinance amending Zoning Ordinance No. 278 to add Article 20A, creating the Mound Road Innovation Support District. Councilwoman Ziarko stated all of her questions were answered this afternoon in a conversation with Mr. McLeod, so she has no further questions. Councilman Radtke questioned why this district does not encompass the east side of Mound and whether it is because it is an industrial area. Mr. McLeod replied that is correct and the heart of the industrial district is on the east side of Mound Road. The west side has some residential a little further to the west, and there is a mixture of uses that have developed over time. The east side of Mound has M-1 and M-2 uses, so that is why this district is proposed for the east side only. Councilman Radtke questioned how they are going to move the retail businesses to the major cross streets. Mr. McLeod replied that the retail businesses are already at the major cross streets, although there are sporadic retail businesses that do not occur at those Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 31 intersections. He stated the ordinance is written in such a way that the existing land uses can remain and are uninhibited, but it would be specified that it could not be introduced anywhere other than those intersections. The idea is for the district to become successful and grow, and the Innovation Support District will take over those retail areas and help further support the industrial district. He stressed they are not trying to relocate any business or push retail out, but they are trying to limit the expansion of retail services on the west side, with the exception of the intersections. Councilman Radtke stated he hopes there is flexibility for the retail businesses that are on Mound Road and those that want to locate there in the future. He stated he is in favor of the ordinance, but was concerned that when retail is only at the intersections, it prevents people from walking easily from their future offices to purchase convenience-type items, so he felt there needs to be some retail on Mound that may not be at the intersections. Mr. McLeod assured they can look at that moving forward if it is deemed as a necessity, but they hear from developers on Mound that it is a very difficult retail road, it does not have the same characteristics as Van Dyke and retail businesses on the west side of Mound often struggle. By allowing retail to expand on the west side, they may be perpetuating a market that may not be there, and it may be better served as a support district. If the need for retail comes forward in the future, they can look at it. Yes: All. The motion carried. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 32 9. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Taylor stated this item is consideration of the Consent Agenda. He invited public comments from the audience. There were no comments from the audience. Moved by Koski, seconded by Ziarko, RESOLVED, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented: A. To approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 1, 2019. B. To approve payment of the bills as presented: General Fund - $762,458.44, Water & Sewer Fund - $1,985,611.81, Other Funds - $9,801,094.34, Total Checks - $12,549,164.59. C. RESOLVED, to: a) Purchase a 2020 Kenworth T800 tandem axle chassis from Michigan Kenworth, 3031 Wyoming Ave., Dearborn, MI 48120, at pricing available through the State of Michigan’s MiDeal vehicle purchasing program, Contract #071B6600121C, in the amount of $140,723; and b) Purchase a 2020 Freightliner 114SD tandem axle chassis from Wolverine Freightliner – Eastside, Inc., 107 S. Groesbeck, Mt. Clemens, MI 48043, at pricing available through the City of Rochester Hills, MI cooperative request for proposals, RFP-RH-13-030, in the amount of $121,752; and c) Purchase Henderson dump bodies, with plows, road de-icing equipment and accessories, from Knapheide Truck Equipment, 1200 S. Averill Avenue, Flint, MI 48503, at pricing available through a National Joint Powers Alliance cooperative request for proposals, RFP #080114- HPI, in the amount of $233,625. D. RESOLVED, to award the bid for police vehicle upfitting to Arrowhead Upfitters, Inc., 15 S. Elba Rd., Lapeer, MI 48446, based on unit prices bid for a one-year period, and authorize the City Manager to extend the bid award for two (2) additional one (1) year periods, upon mutual consent. E. RESOLVED, to purchase roofing materials from The Garland Company, Inc., 3800 East 91st Street, Cleveland, OH 44105, at pricing available through a U.S. Communities cooperative purchasing contract, #14-5903, in the amount of $108,733.19 and award the base bid, Sections A, G, H and J, for removal and replacement of the roofing systems at the Sterling Heights Senior Active Life Center to Lutz Roofing Company, Inc., 4721 22 Mile Road, Shelby Township, MI 48317, in the amount of $308,300. F. RESOLVED, to approve the Grant Agreement between the City of Sterling Heights and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 33 a DTE Energy Foundation Tree Planting Grant and authorize the City Manager to sign all documents required in conjunction with this approval. G. RESOLVED, to approve the Grant Agreement between the City of Sterling Heights and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for a DTE Energy Foundation Tree Planting Grant and authorize the City Manager to sign all documents required in conjunction with this approval. H. RESOLVED, to approve the acquisition of public utility easements at 6222 18 Mile Road, 6170 18 Mile Road, 6300 18 Mile Road, 6600 18 Mile Road and 6750 18 Mile Road to facilitate the installation of public sidewalk and utilities along the south side of 18 Mile Road, between Van Dyke Avenue and Mound Road, at a cumulative cost of $66,700. I. RESOLVED, to approve the Cost Sharing Agreements between the County of Macomb, City of Sterling Heights and the City of Warren for professional engineering services related to Phase II of the Mound Reconstruction Project from I-696 to M-59, subject to approval by Macomb County and the City of Warren, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the Cost Sharing Agreement on behalf of the City of Sterling Heights. J. RESOLVED, to receive the lawsuit, Carl Walker v Sterling Heights Police Department, 41A District Court Case No. S-19-3779-GZ. Yes: All. The motion carried. 10. CONSIDERATION B. Mayor Taylor stated this is to consider appointments to City of Sterling Heights Boards and Commissions. He opened the floor for public comments, but there were no comments from the audience. Mayor Taylor opened the floor for appointments to the Housing Commission, but there were no motions. Housing Commission Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED, to postpone the appointment to the Housing Commission to the November 19, 2019 regular City Council meeting. Yes: All. The motion carried. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 34 Local Development Finance Authority Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED, to postpone the appointment to the Local Development Finance Authority to the November 19, 2019 regular City Council meeting. Yes: All. The motion carried. Youth Advisory Board Moved by Schmidt, seconded by Ziarko, RESOLVED, to appoint Genevieve Myers to the Youth Advisory Board to a term ending June 30, 2020, subject to the appointee meeting the qualifications set forth in Charter §4.03 and taking the oath of office within two weeks. Yes: All. The motion carried. Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED, to appoint Emily Breton and Sophia Garnczarski to the Youth Advisory Board to a term ending June 30, 2020, subject to the appointees meeting the qualifications set forth in Charter §4.03 and taking the oath of office within two weeks. Yes: All. The motion carried. Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED, to postpone the appointment of seven positions to the Youth Advisory Board to the November 19, 2019 regular City Council meeting. Yes: All. The motion carried. 11. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS Mayor Taylor opened the floor for comments from citizens. • Ms. Joyce Tye – CPR classes at Fire Station #5 on fourth Wednesday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 35 • Mr. Nick Cavalli – Historical Commission Cemetery Walk this weekend at Sterling Grove Cemetery; Safe Streets millage renewal on November 5; wished local high school bands well in MSBOA competition. • Ms. Jazmine Early – in support of Red Ribbon Week, urged residents to light their porches red; reminded everyone to vote. • Mr. Jonathan Matthews – urged everyone to get CPR training; spread information about No Reason Absentee Voting. 12. REPORTS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATION AND CITY COUNCIL Mr. Vanderpool stated he had nothing further to add this evening. Mr. Kaszubski stated there are three items for Closed Session this evening. Councilman Yanez noted the extended time for leaf collection. He stated there is a fee to take the leaves and other yard waste to the compost center so if residents have the opportunity to mulch, he urged them to do so. It is good for the lawn and will save the City money. It costs nearly $20 a ton for tipping fee, and he estimated they pick up between 13,000 and 14,000 tons. Councilman Radtke urged everyone to cast their ballot. He hoped people will see the value of their police and fire services and vote accordingly. Councilwoman Schmidt questioned the status of the intersection improvements at Moravian and Schoenherr, noting there was a very serious accident at that location this past weekend. She stated she is getting impatient because it is something for which she has been asking for many years. Mr. Vanderpool shared Councilwoman Schmidt’s concern about completion of that project, but he stated that unfortunately they cannot control the contractor delays. He noted he visited the site today, and according to their project schedule, they are getting the site work finished, the parking lot ready to pave, then they will complete the driveways. Once that is done, they will put Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 36 in the right-hand turn lanes and complete all road improvements they have to make with that project, which will be completed by year-end. He stated that will relieve congestion in the area and there will be designated left-turn lanes to avoid stacking delays and minor accidents. He informed the traffic light signal is under the authority of the County, and he cannot provide a guaranteed date of when the County will install the left-hand turn signal, adding it may not be until spring. He felt the lane improvement alone will be very noticeable. Councilwoman Schmidt suggested they find a new place for the “Artist of the Month” display that is in the basement of City Hall, and she suggested possibly in the new Community Center or the library. She would like to see those displays in a place that is more accessible to everyone. Councilwoman Koski read an article regarding Shelby Township’s program regarding sidewalk gaps. She questioned whether Mr. Vanderpool could come up with something for Sterling Heights where they may be able to fill in all of the sidewalk gaps on major roads leading to the City’s parks. Mr. Vanderpool replied this is an initiative for City Administration, and over the winter months they will be looking at a number of options for City Council to consider for next year’s program in an effort to try to accelerate it, including looking at different products, putting a cap on some of the special assessments that are very expensive with some of the construction prices, and having some general fund allocation help offset the program. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 37 Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski encouraged all registered voters to vote, either by absentee or going to the poles. She added Safe Streets is extremely important to the City, and they cannot function in their current capacity without it unless the State miraculously gives the cities back their cost-sharing that was taken away so many years ago. Councilwoman Ziarko agreed with her colleagues about the importance of voters casting their ballots, and she urged them to vote in favor of Safe Streets millage renewal, emphasizing it is a renewal and not a new tax. She pointed out the statistics that have been released from the FBI and other organizations that measure safety in the City. She commented that it pays off and could not be done without the men and women in uniform who take care of everyone. Mayor Taylor reminded the next regular City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, November 6, which is a postponement of one day due to the election. He encouraged everyone to get out and vote. 13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. 14. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. 15. CLOSED SESSION PERMITTED UNDER ACT 267 OF 1976 Moved by Taylor, seconded by Schmidt, to adjourn the meeting and go into Closed Session. Yes: Sierawski, Taylor, Yanez, Ziarko, Koski, Radtke, Schmidt. The motion carried. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 38 The meeting adjourned into Closed Session at 8:54 p.m. and reconvened at 9:55 p.m. Moved by Sierawski, seconded by Taylor, RESOLVED, to authorize the City Attorney to pursue all available remedies to abate the nuisance conditions and code violations existing at 4220 Fifteen Mile Road, Sterling Heights, Michigan 48310. Yes: All. The motion carried. Moved by Radtke, seconded by Taylor, RESOLVED, to authorize the City Attorney to pursue all available remedies to abate the nuisance conditions and code violations existing at 2700 Seventeen Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48310. Yes: All. The motion carried. 16. ADJOURN Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, to adjourn the meeting. Yes: All. The motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:57 p.m. MELANIE D. RYSKA, City Clerk